Teacher awarded $10,000 in lawsuit

Published: Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 11:17 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 11:17 a.m.

HOUMA — The Terrebonne Parish School Board must pay $10,000 to a teacher for making public a letter detailing his alleged 2007 theft of building supplies, resulting in negative television coverage.

Tommy Sledge, a Vo-Tech High teacher, claimed a school employee gave the confidential letter to local television station HTV. It's leak and subsequent broadcast led to his insomnia, embarrassment and emotional pain, he said.

District Judge David Arceneaux issued a written judgment in Sledge's favor Tuesday, about five months after presiding over the trial. He says former Vo-Tech High Principal Marcel Fournier gave Houma Police the letter, who then released it to HTV in response to a public-records request.

Fournier “zealously cooperated” with police to substantiate allegations against Sledge, Arceneaux says, adding that the principal's employment in the school system makes the board responsible for Sledge's damages.

Arceneaux reviewed television coverage from HTV before issuing his judgment.

“It is an understatement to say that Mr. Sledge was subjected to extreme public humiliation through the media as a result of the charges that he misappropriated public property for private gain,” Arceneaux says.

Sledge admitted during the August trial he used school materials to build a personal boat shed. However, he said it was routine among teachers, who had permission from higher-ups.

Sledge was charged with unauthorized use of a movable, court documents say. The case never went to trial because he entered a first-time offenders program arranged through the Terrebonne Parish District Attorney's Office. It allows defendants to avoid jail by completing educational classes, rehabilitative programs or community service.

School Board attorney Berwick Duval said the board accepts some fault for the negative attention Sledge received because the letter, part of his confidential personnel record, was released. But he considers Sledge chiefly to blame because he admittedly took school-owned supplies.

“That's been our argument all along,” he said. “The publicity wasn't related solely to the release of that one document.”

Attempts to reach Sledge and his attorney, Barron Whipple of Houma, were unsuccessful Wednesday.

Fournier, now principal of Grand Caillou Middle, said by phone he was unaware of the judgment and declined to comment further. During the trial, Fournier said he may have given the letter to police.

The July 2006 letter concerned a disciplinary meeting held by administrators on allegations against Sledge.

Ed Richard, schools superintendent at the time, followed the committee's recommendations to suspend Sledge for three days without pay and require him to pay for materials he used.

Richard disregarded a third recommendation that Sledge be transferred.

With Richard's permission, Fournier also went to Houma Police with the allegations, Arceneaux says. He writes that the principal probably delivered the confidential letter to officers between July 20, 2006, and Aug. 2, 2006.

In January 2007, HTV owner Martin Folse began reporting on allegations that supplies and student labor were being exploited at Vo-Tech High, Arceneaux says. Fournier met with Folse, gave him documents regarding the allegations and allowed him to visit the campus for interviews.

Louisiana law allows Fournier to approach police with such allegations but forbids him from releasing confidential personnel information, even to law enforcement, Arceneaux says.

In deciding the sum awarded to Sledge, Arceneaux said he considered the “extraordinary” amount of negative coverage Sledge received compared with the “ancillary matter” of his possible firing as a result of the meeting mentioned in the leaked letter.

He also considered the impact of coverage of Sledge's relationships with relatives, friends and employees.

Superintendent Philip Martin said he was unaware of the decision, but accepts it.

“The legal system has spoken,” Martin said. “We respect it and move on.”

Staff Writer Matthew Pleasant can be reached at 857-2202 or matthew.pleasant@houmatoday.com.

<p>HOUMA — The Terrebonne Parish School Board must pay $10,000 to a teacher for making public a letter detailing his alleged 2007 theft of building supplies, resulting in negative television coverage.</p><p>Tommy Sledge, a Vo-Tech High teacher, claimed a school employee gave the confidential letter to local television station HTV. It's leak and subsequent broadcast led to his insomnia, embarrassment and emotional pain, he said.</p><p>District Judge David Arceneaux issued a written judgment in Sledge's favor Tuesday, about five months after presiding over the trial. He says former Vo-Tech High Principal Marcel Fournier gave Houma Police the letter, who then released it to HTV in response to a public-records request.</p><p>Fournier “zealously cooperated” with police to substantiate allegations against Sledge, Arceneaux says, adding that the principal's employment in the school system makes the board responsible for Sledge's damages.</p><p>Arceneaux reviewed television coverage from HTV before issuing his judgment.</p><p>“It is an understatement to say that Mr. Sledge was subjected to extreme public humiliation through the media as a result of the charges that he misappropriated public property for private gain,” Arceneaux says.</p><p>Sledge admitted during the August trial he used school materials to build a personal boat shed. However, he said it was routine among teachers, who had permission from higher-ups.</p><p>Sledge was charged with unauthorized use of a movable, court documents say. The case never went to trial because he entered a first-time offenders program arranged through the Terrebonne Parish District Attorney's Office. It allows defendants to avoid jail by completing educational classes, rehabilitative programs or community service.</p><p>School Board attorney Berwick Duval said the board accepts some fault for the negative attention Sledge received because the letter, part of his confidential personnel record, was released. But he considers Sledge chiefly to blame because he admittedly took school-owned supplies.</p><p>“That's been our argument all along,” he said. “The publicity wasn't related solely to the release of that one document.”</p><p>Attempts to reach Sledge and his attorney, Barron Whipple of Houma, were unsuccessful Wednesday.</p><p>Fournier, now principal of Grand Caillou Middle, said by phone he was unaware of the judgment and declined to comment further. During the trial, Fournier said he may have given the letter to police.</p><p>The July 2006 letter concerned a disciplinary meeting held by administrators on allegations against Sledge.</p><p>Ed Richard, schools superintendent at the time, followed the committee's recommendations to suspend Sledge for three days without pay and require him to pay for materials he used.</p><p>Richard disregarded a third recommendation that Sledge be transferred.</p><p>With Richard's permission, Fournier also went to Houma Police with the allegations, Arceneaux says. He writes that the principal probably delivered the confidential letter to officers between July 20, 2006, and Aug. 2, 2006.</p><p>In January 2007, HTV owner Martin Folse began reporting on allegations that supplies and student labor were being exploited at Vo-Tech High, Arceneaux says. Fournier met with Folse, gave him documents regarding the allegations and allowed him to visit the campus for interviews.</p><p>Louisiana law allows Fournier to approach police with such allegations but forbids him from releasing confidential personnel information, even to law enforcement, Arceneaux says.</p><p>In deciding the sum awarded to Sledge, Arceneaux said he considered the “extraordinary” amount of negative coverage Sledge received compared with the “ancillary matter” of his possible firing as a result of the meeting mentioned in the leaked letter.</p><p>He also considered the impact of coverage of Sledge's relationships with relatives, friends and employees.</p><p>Superintendent Philip Martin said he was unaware of the decision, but accepts it.</p><p>“The legal system has spoken,” Martin said. “We respect it and move on.”</p><p>Staff Writer Matthew Pleasant can be reached at 857-2202 or matthew.pleasant@houmatoday.com.</p>